On my first night as an official Astoria resident it was hard to choose where I wanted dinner. The dozens of restaurants on my block alone were filled with seemingly happy patrons. How was a girl to decide? The second I saw the red flower outside Watawa, however, I knew I'd found the sushi jackpot.

With bright red walls and zen-like decor, I relaxed into my seat hoping Watawa lived up to my Gainesville favorite, Bento. I love you Bento, but I think I've found a new love in Watawa's sushi rolls.

Edamame & Shumai

It's been my personal opinion that a restaurant's Edamame says a lot about them. If it's undercooked, not salty enough or just plain gross, I find the sushi isn't all that great either. Fortunately, Watawa's edamame was cooked well and its Shumai, or Japanese steamed shrimp dumplings, were even better.

The presentation was delicate yet fun and the sauce added a nice sweetness to the dumplings. The dumplings weren't what I expected, with an almost cake-like texture and juicy shrimp center I wanted far more than five of them.

Dynamite Roll

Jake played it safe with a Dynamite Roll, spicy tuna topped with crunchy, spicy crabmeat. The texture of the crunchy tempura flakes went well with the soft tuna center. I was lucky he even shared a few bites before devouring the rest.

Irine Roll

After traveling all day, I was absolutely famished. The Irine Roll with blackened tuna, asparagus and avocado, topped with yellowtail, eel, tuna and salmon, plus wasabi mayo, spicy mayo and eel sauce hit the spot. I loved the colorful, over-the-top presentation.

All of the fish was extremely fresh and the flavors went surprisingly well together. The crisp asparagus paired well with the creamy avocado, while the wasabi mayo added a nice heat to the dish.

After practically licking my plate clean, I took a to-go menu. You better believe I fully intend to become a frequent customer.